SALISBURY — The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education is considering an offer from the county to fund $28.5 million in capital needs for a new central office, improvements at Knox Middle School and preparations to build a new elementary school in the western part of the county.

Meeting with the Rowan County Board of Commissioners this morning, school board members were seeking county commitment to fund $40.5 million in capital improvements to complete all three projects.

Commissioners said $28.5 million was all they could fund in the near future without raising taxes. They talked about following up with the rest of the requested money once a payment plan was figured out but did not vote on that. Video from today’s meeting is the Rowan County website.

The motion to finance $28.5 million, made by Chad Mitchell, passed 4-1, with Jon Barber voting no. Barber favored committing to the full $40 million.

The vote came at the end of the three-hour meeting. After commissioners adjourned, school board members went to the system’s Ellis Street offices to continue deliberations and consult with their attorney.